Have you ever been paralyzed by fear, only to wonder how some people seem to charge forward despite their doubts? In this message, Pastor Jeremy DeWeerdt dives deep into the reality of fear, not as something to avoid, but as something to confront head-on. Drawing inspiration from the story of Gideon, we explore how even the most reluctant heroes, filled with hesitation, can still accomplish incredible things when they choose to act despite their fears. Discover practical steps to conquer your fears and step into the life God has called you to, even when the odds seem stacked against you.
Notes 📓✏️:
I love what Nelson Mandela said in his book, Long Walk to Freedom:
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. I felt fear myself more times than I can remember, but I hid it behind a mask of boldness. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” ~ Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom, 1994
Jocko Willink – “Do not run from fear. Understand it.”
Everything worth having in life is on the other side of fear, risk, and hard work.
Judges 6:14 (ESV): “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”
Gideon is a reluctant hero.
He replies to God…
Judges 6:15 (ESV): “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
Judges 6:16 (ESV): “But I will be with you…”
Hebrews 13:5-6 (NCV): “God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.” So we can be sure when we say, “I will not be afraid, because the Lord is my helper.”
You can be filled with both…
• Faith and fear.
• Courage and cowardice.
• Confidence and questioning.
You can be…
• Assured, yet anxious.
• Willing, yet weak.
• Ready, yet reluctant.
How do you do it afraid?
1. Understand what you wear.
Judges 6:34 (ESV): “But the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon…”
Luke 24:49 (NIV): “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
2. Realize less is more.
Judges 7:6 (NLT): “Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream.”
Judges 7:2 (NLT): “The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to Me that they saved themselves by their own strength.”
3. Face your fear!
Judges 7:9,10 (NLT): “That night the LORD said, “Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them! But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah.”
4. Worship to Win
Judges 7:14-15 (ESV) “Your dream can mean only one thing—God has given Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite, victory over Midian and all its allies!”
When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship before the LORD. Then he returned to the Israelite camp and shouted, “Get up! For the LORD has given you victory over the Midianite hordes!”
Discussion Questions 📝❓:
- Which of the four steps Pastor Jeremy discussed for overcoming fear resonates with you the most, and why?
- How can we, as a life group, help each other to face our fears and rely of God’s strength?
- Why is it important to remember that fear and faith can coexist, and how does this change you perspective on overcoming challenges?
- What are some fears that you face in your own life, and how they affect your decisions?